Terry Waite launches The Build
On 25th March 2008 we welcomed Terry Waite CBE, President of the Emmaus UK Federation, to officially launch the start of building our Emmaus Community in Oxford. Terry sat in a bulldozer and, under instruction from the contractors, successfully manoeuvred the grab arm and scooped up some earth! It was slightly easier with a spade, but both made excellent images for the local media.
We received good coverage, including TV - BBC South featured us as a news item that evening. It showed Terry in action on site, along with interview clips of Emmaus Oxford Director Wyon Stansfeld and Emmaus Bristol Companion Mike Poole, followed by a studio interview with Terry.
After the outdoor ceremony we moved indoors for lunch, with speeches from both Terry Waite and William Alden, Chairman of Trustees of Emmaus Oxford, and a toast to our new Community. Our thanks to neighbours the United Reformed Church for generous provision of the venue, as well as all their help and support over many years.
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Here is Terry displaying his skill at operating the digger.
This was also an opportunity to celebrate with our main partner, Dominion Housing Group. Through this partnership, major government funding has been obtained from both the Housing Corporation and Communities and Local Government. Once the building is completed, by early summer of 2009, it will be handed over to Emmaus Oxford and the first Companions will move in.
Some staff from Dominion, from the contractors and other associated professionals, along with representatives from funders and former Emmaus Oxford trustees, were among the guests at the publicity event. We look forward to holding our Official Opening on a much larger scale!
Published on 28th March, 2008
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